Vessel-loading apparatus



(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. O. ALLEN. VESSEL LOADING APPARATUS.

No. 586,151. Patented July 13,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 ShegtsSheet 2.

G. O. ALLEN. VESSEL LOADING APPARATUS.

No. 586,151. Patented July 13, 189.7.

NITE rarns CHRISTOPHER C. ALLEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VESSEL-LOADING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,151, dated July 13, 1897.

Application filed March 8 1897- To (l/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CHRISTOPHER O. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Loading Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,'such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a device for distributing ore in the hold of a vessel as it is delivered from a chute through the hatchways. Ordinarily when ore is delivered into the hold of a vessel through the hatchways from a chute it accumulates in heaps below the center of said hatchways, and if it is allowed to .remain in this condition it will shift and give the vessel a list. To prevent this action, it is customary to spread the ore more or less evenly in the hold, this operation being known as trimming. The shovelers or trimmers are generally stationed in the hold while the vessel is loading, and they work as best they may while the load is being run in. Nevertheless the vessel is always detained at the dock for from one to three or more hours after the load is in for the trimming to be completed. Moreover, when the ore is trimmed it is still deepest below the hatchways. This is objectionable when it comes to unloading the vessel, because the work of unloading will progress more rapidly after the shovelers have dug down to the floor directly under the hatchways, and it is therefore of advantage to have the ore beneath the hatchways as shallow as possible.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective contrivance by which the ore as it is delivered from a chute through the hatchway will be directed toward the sides of the vessel and so well distributed that little or-no trimming will be necessary.

The invention consists of a deflector-skid and means for suspending it at any desired inclination in the hold below the hatchways, whereby the ore falling upon it from a chute will be distributed as described.

It also consists in the more specific combination of parts for efiecting this result, as

"or any other s uitable material.

Serial No, 626,516. (No model.)

hereinafter described, and pointed out definitely in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of the deck of a vessel, one of the hatchways therein, and a deflectorskid suspended in the desired relation thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same parts. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, of one of the suspending-hooks.

Referring to the parts by letter, A represents the deck of an ore-carrying vessel, a one of the hatchways therein, and a the coaming of said hatchway.

B and 13' represent two deflecting-skids, which may be made of wood, iron, or steel, In form these deflecting-skids are like flat planks, being of suitable length and width to meet the requirements, the width being generally less than the width of the hatchways. At what may be called the inner ends of each of these skids a plate C, having ears 0, is secured. The inner ends of these skids are suspended by chains d, which hang from hooks D D, their lower ends being secured to said ears. These hooks are so formed that they engage with the hatch-coamings and may be moved along the same by ropes d or other means, so as to engage therewith at any desired point.

D I) represent other hooks which likewise engage with and are movable along the hatchcoamings. To these hooks the chains (1 are secured, and these chains are fastened to ears 9 on the plate G, said plate being fastened to the skid B at any suitable point near its outer end. These chains d, which are longer than the chains cl, support the outer end of the deflector-skid, whereby said skid inclines downwardly from its inner to its outer end. Because it is so inclined some of the ore which falls upon it will slide down to and off said outer end, the rest of said ore being shed from the sides of the skid. By moving these hooks along the coamings the relative elevation of the two ends of the skid may be changed, and so also may the relative elevation of the sides of the skid. By thus changing its position the skid may be caused to direct the ore substantially as described.

In the drawings one of the skids B is shown shorter than the other. This, however, is immaterial. The shorter skid is placed on the side of the vessel nearest to the dock. It inclines downwardly from its inner end to its outer end, and said outer end may be upheld by chains 01 which are secured to a suitable support in the hold near the side of the vessel.

Having described my invention, I claim In a vessel, the combination with a hatchway coaming of a flat deflector-skid, two chains secured thereto at its inner end, and two chains secured thereto at the sides of the flat skid near its outer end, and hooks on said chain which en gage with said hatchway-coaming and adapted to be adjusted to different positions along said coaming, whereby the skid is suspended at a desired point and the relative elevation of its-sides and ends is determined, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER O. ALLEN.

WVitnesses:

BERTHA SRP, GEO. B. MARTY. 

